Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Estimation of sediment transport capacity (STC) plays a crucial role in simulating soil erosion using any physics-based models. In this research, we aim to investigate the pros and cons of six popular STC methods (namely, Shear velocity, Kilinc-Richardson (KR), Effective stream power, Slope and unit discharge, Englund-Hansen (EH), and Unit stream power) for soil erosion/deposition simulation at watershed scales. An in-depth analysis was performed using the selected STC methods integrated into the Grid Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis model for investigating the changes in morphology at spatial-temporal scales at the Cheoncheon watershed, South Korea, over three storm events. Conclusions were drawn as follows. (1) Due to the ability of the KR and EH methods to include an additional parameter (i.e., erodibility coefficient), they outperformed others by producing more accurate simulation results of sediment concentration predictions. The KR method also proved to be superior to the EH method when it showed a more suitable for sediment concentration simulations with a wide range of sediment size and forcing magnitude. (2) We further selected 2 STC methods among the 6 methods to deeply explore the spatial distribution of erosion/deposition. The overall results were more agreeable. For instance, the phenomenon of erosion mainly occurred upstream of watersheds with steep slopes and unbalanced initial sediment concentrations, whereas deposition typically appeared at locations with flat terrain (or along the mainstream). The EH method demonstrated the influence of topography (e.g., gradient slope) on accretionary erosion/deposition results more significantly than the KR method. The obtained results contribute a new understanding of rainfall-sediment-runoff processes and provide fundamental plans for soil conservation in watersheds.
Highlights
Soil loss is a severe problem worldwide causing poor water quality, ecosystem destruction, reduced reservoir storage, and decreased agricultural productivity
The KR method proved to be superior to the EH method when it showed a more suitable for sediment concentration simulations with a wide range of sediment size and forcing magnitude
Various physics-based models are accessible for soil loss simulation, such as HYPE (Hydrological Predictions for the environment) [4], EUROSEM (European Soil Erosion Model) [5], EROSION-3D [6], SHETRAN (SystemeHydrologique Europian-Transport) [7], RUSLE2 (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Version 2) [8], and SSEM (Surface Soil Erosion Model) [9]
Summary
Soil loss is a severe problem worldwide causing poor water quality, ecosystem destruction, reduced reservoir storage, and decreased agricultural productivity. The process of soil loss comprises the correlated subprocesses of sediment detachment, transportation, and erosion/deposition caused mainly by rainfall impacts and surface flow [1]. Detachment estimation and net deposition are decided by comparing sediment load with sediment transport capacity (STC). As a pivotal input function of physics-based soil erosion models, the STC of overland flow is the maximal equilibrium sediment load that surface runoff can convey for specific hydraulic conditions [2,3]. The above-mentioned environmental impacts of soil erosion have persuaded researchers to develop physics-based and computational models that can simulate the effects of sediment movement. Various physics-based models are accessible for soil loss simulation, such as HYPE (Hydrological Predictions for the environment) [4], EUROSEM (European Soil Erosion Model) [5], EROSION-3D [6], SHETRAN (SystemeHydrologique Europian-Transport) [7], RUSLE2 (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Version 2) [8], and SSEM (Surface Soil Erosion Model) [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
